CaliToday (20/10/2025):
PARIS – The world's most-visited museum, the Louvre, was forced into an emergency shutdown on Sunday, October 19, after a brazen and meticulously executed robbery. A gang of thieves, described as "very professional," stole eight priceless items from the French crown jewels collection in a raid that lasted just four minutes, escaping on motorbikes before security could react.
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| Police officers stand near the pyramid of the Louvre museum after the robbery. (Reuters) |
The heist, which has stunned the art world, took place precisely at 9:00 a.m. local time, the exact moment the museum opened its doors to the public.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what is known about the "theft of the decade."
A Four-Minute, 'Surgical' Operation
According to French officials, the robbery was a model of criminal precision, marked by its speed and lack of violence.
France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, told France Inter that "three or four thieves" infiltrated the museum. He confirmed they had "scouted the venue in preparation," identifying a critical vulnerability.
The thieves reportedly used a crane to access an upstairs window. Once in position, they used a disc cutter to slice through the window panes, gaining entry to the gallery housing the French crown jewels. It is not yet clear if the perpetrators brought the heavy equipment with them or commandeered it from a nearby construction site, as extensive work is taking place along the River Seine side of the building.
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| Police officers work by a basket lift used by thieves in the Louve robbery. (AP) |
Once inside, the gang smashed display cases, seized their targets, and fled the building, making their getaway on motorbikes.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati told French television channel TF1 that the entire operation was captured on surveillance footage.
"We saw some footage: they don't target people, they enter calmly in four minutes, smash display cases, take their loot and leave," Dati said. "No violence, very professional."
The interior ministry confirmed that no injuries were reported among the public, museum staff, or law enforcement.
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| A police officer works inside the Louvre museum near to the window where the perpetrators are believed to have got in. (AP) |
The sudden security response caused confusion among the first visitors of the day. Tourists Joan and Jim Carpenter, from California, told Reuters they were being ushered out of a gallery just as they were about to see the Mona Lisa. "I knew something was up because of the way they swept the whole museum," Joan Carpenter said.
The Louvre itself remained tight-lipped on the day of the incident, posting only a brief notice on its website stating it was closed for "exceptional reasons."
The Stolen Treasures
The Culture Ministry confirmed that eight items of "inestimable heritage and historical value" were stolen. The pieces are renowned works from the 19th-century French Royal and Imperial collections. The stolen items are:
A tiara from the jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
A necklace from the sapphire jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
One earring from a pair belonging to the same sapphire set
An emerald necklace from the Marie-Louise set
A pair of emerald earrings from the Marie-Louise set
A brooch known as the reliquary brooch
A tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie
A large bodice knot (brooch) also belonging to Empress Eugénie
In a stroke of luck, one priceless item was recovered. The Crown of Empress Eugénie was found abandoned outside the museum, apparently dropped by the thieves during their high-speed escape.
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| Visitors take pictures of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) |
Art detective Arthur Brand described the heist as "the theft of the decade" to Sky News. He warned that police are in a "race against time," as the perpetrators will likely try to dismantle the jewellery and melt down the precious metals and stones to sell them off piecemeal, destroying their unique historical identity forever.
A History of Vulnerability
The Louvre, originally a 12th-century fortress turned royal palace, welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year. Its most famous theft occurred in 1911 when the Mona Lisa was stolen by a former employee. The painting was recovered two years later.
However, Culture Minister Rachida Dati stated that this modern-day robbery highlights a long-standing security problem.
"For 40 years, there was little focus on securing these major museums," Dati said, revealing that the president of the Louvre had requested a full security audit from the police prefect two years ago.
"Why? Because museums must adapt to new forms of crime," she continued. "Today, it's organised crime - professionals."
